“A federal judge ruled Monday that prosecutors can introduce evidence of Rep. Duncan Hunter’s (R-CA) personal relationships, including alleged affairs, in his criminal trial,” the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

“Last week prosecutors filed a series of motions, including one that spelled out some of Duncan Hunter’s questionable expenditures that prosecutors said were linked to his extramarital affairs with five women, including three lobbyists and two congressional staffers.”

“Attorneys for Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), who has been indicted for campaign finance violations, asked the court to exclude allegations that he misused campaign funds during extramarital affairs, saying that his alleged relationships ‘often served an overtly political purpose,'” The Hill reports.

“Hunter’s attorneys said in court Friday that the government was attempting to ‘publicly embarrass Mr. Hunter with evidence that reflects poorly on his character,’ and that the value of the evidence is outweighed by the risk it would unfairly prejudice the jury against him, according to a document published in full by USA Today.”

“It’s sad that they were able to bludgeon her into submission. We’ve got some Hillary lawyers there in San Diego.”

— Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), quoted by NBC News, on his wife, Margaret, taking a plea deal on corruption charges and possibly testifying against him.

Margaret Hunter, the wife of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), formally admitted that she illegally used thousands of dollars in campaign donations for her personal expenses, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

“Specifically, Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy. She faces up to five years in federal custody and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced Sept. 1.”

“The 22-page agreement makes clear that Margaret Hunter has been cooperating with prosecutors for months — and her eventual sentence will reflect that help.”

Duncan Hunter told the Associated Press that “political reasons” prompted the U.S. Justice Department to pressure his wife to testify against him.

Margaret Hunter, the wife of longtime Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who was co-indicted with her husband last summer, “has agreed to change her plea of not guilty and is scheduled to appear in federal court Thursday morning,” the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

“Both Hunter and wife were indicted in August on 60 criminal counts related to what prosecutors allege was a yearslong misuse of campaign donations to the congressman’s re-election fund.”

The congressman’s attorney declined to discuss whether she might be cooperating with the prosecution.

Flashback: Hunter blames wife for illegal spending.